Draft gear



f77/Vador:

`*April 28,1959 H. w. MULCAHY DRAFT GEAR v Filed Aug. 9, 1954 4I,Sheets-,Sheet 1 Harn W/WuZcn/ H. w. MULCAHY 2,884,141

' DRAF-'' GEAR 4 sheets-sheet 2 y WM`-- Einem @m Q M April 28, 1959Filed Aug. 9, 1954 v April 2s, 1959 f H. w; MULCJAHYA 2,884,141V DRAFTGEAR Filed Aug. 9, 1954 g 4 sheets-sheet 4 United States Patent Oiice2,884,141 Patented Apr. `2.8, ,195.9

'DRAFT GEAR Harry W. Mulcahy, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. H. Miner,Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application August 9,1954, Serial No. Y448,411

41Claims. (Cl. 213-45) This .invention relates to draft Agear forrailway draft rigging.

It is a main lobject of the invention to provide in a dra'ft gear forrailway draft rigging a compensating device for maintaining the geartight `in the yoke .and pocket of a vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a draft gear as set outin the previous paragraph, key means registrable with the casing membersto maintain the gear as a unitary structure for shipping and tofacilitate in stalling the gear in the yoke of a railway draft rigging.

Another object of the invention is to provide :in a comv pensatingdevice for railway draft rigging, a resilient column maintained undercompression to maintain the gear .tight in the yoke and to provide forlimiting the .maximum compression to which the compensating column maybe subjected.

Further objects of the invention .not specifically mentioned here willbe apparent from the detailed description and claims which follow,reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which a preferredembodiment olf the invention is shown by way of example and in which:

Figure l is a plan view of the draft gear installed in the rigging;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view through the horizontal median .planeof the gear, with .the keys in place for shipping;

Figure v3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section,.show ing the gearinstalled in a yoke aud pocket of normal length;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view, partly in section,lshow ing the gearinstalled in a yoke that is shorter than the pocket;

Figure 5 is a ,fragmentary viewpart'ly in section, showing the gearinstalled in a yoke that is longer .than the pocket;

`Figure 6 is a rear elevational view of the gear with the keys i-npla-ce for shipping;

Figure 7 is a rear end elevational view df the .compensator housing; and

Figure 8 is a rear end .elevational view of the vcompensating plunger.

Draft gears for railway draft rigging tit within the yoke of the riggingand into a pocket between the sills and door of the vehicle, whichpocket is defined in length by lugs securedto the sills. The usual draft.gear consists of a casing enclosing a resilient column that ismaintained under compression and bears against a `pressure applyingmeans to keep that `means projecting from one 4Mend of the casing. Therear end olf the casing 'bears against the rear lugs and rear end of theyoke. A ollower bears against the pressure applying means and frontlugs. Such an arrangement keeps the gear tight in the pocket and yokeonly when the length of the pocket and yoke are the same, and when thepocket and yoke are of unequal lengths unwanted slack will result.

It is to thekeeping of the gear tight in the pocket and -2 yoke,notwithstanding variations in the lengths thereof, that the presentinvention is particularly directed.

In its preferred form Vthe gear of the present invention consists of two,casing members, each open at one end and these members are aligned`with the open .ends adjacent. Within the casing is a resilient columnand a compensator housing. Within this housing is a resilientcompensating column and a plunger which projects therefrom and throughan ,opening in the rear end of the rear casing member. When lin thepocket the front casing member bears against the front lugs and the yokeand the rear casing member bears against the rear lugs. 'The plungerbears against the rear end of the yoke. Both the main resilient columnand the resilient compensating vcolumn are maintained under compressionnormally and the gear is maintained `tight in the pocket and yoke,notwithstanding variations yin the lengths thereof.

As vwill be seen in the drawings, particularly Figures l and 2, the gear.of the present invention consists of a front casing member A, a rearcasing member B, a main resilient column composed of a plurality ofresilient pads C arranged in groups with separators D interposed betweenthe groups, one of the separators E 'bridging the gap between theadjacent `ends of the casing members A and B. Fitted within the rearcasing member B is `a `compensating housing F in which a compensatingplunger G .is litted and urged outwardly of the housing by acompensating resilient 4column H that iis maintained 4under compressionat all times.

Casing members A and B are provided `with perforations with which 'keysK may be registered when the casing is shortened slightly below itsnormal length, the keys serving to hold the gear together as a unit tofacili- `tate `shipping .and serving also to maintain the overall lengtholf the gear and compensating plunger slightly less .than .the length ofthe opening in the yoke, thereby to Tfacilitate installing the gear inthe yoke.

The front casing member A in the embodiment shown by -way `of example isof rectangular cross section having a solid front wall 10 that engagesthe front lugs 11 of the pocket and also engages the yoke 12. Side walls'13 of the front member A contain perforations 14 into which the keysfit. The Ifront wall 10 contains rearwardly lextending projections 15:by which the resilient column units C are maintained in place lwithrespect to the member A.

The rear casing member Bis provided at its rear end with inwardlylturned tlanges 16 and 17, defining between .them a rectangular opening18 centered in the end 4of the Jmember. It will be noted that theflanges '-17 are .thinner than the flanges 16, forming a groove 19 Athatopens outwardly of the rear end of the member. Side walls 20 of the.member 'B 'are provided with perforations 21 into which the keys K areregistered.

Within the rear casing member B is a -compensating housing F comprisingavfront wall 22, from which anges 23 and 24 project into engagement withthe llanges 16 .and 17, respectively. Thefront wall '22 contains lbossesy25 :and -sockets 125 by which the resilient pads C and the compensatingcolumn :H are maintained in Iplace with respect to compensating housing'F.

The compensating plunger G comprises ya'flanged base portion 26 thattelescopes between the ilanges 23 and 24 `of `the housing and engagesilanges 16 and "17 of `the casing member VB. The compensating plunger is4provided lwith a main section 27 that projects beyond pensating columnHwhich, in the example shown,'con .sists or rubber pads bonded `to metalplates, which pads are of known design. The pads contain sockets intowhich bosses 25 register and bosses 28 that project into sockets 29 inthe base 26 of the plunger to maintain a resilient column in aligment.

In the example shown, the main resilient column consists of three groupsof pads of known design, which are fitted between the front wall 22 ofthe compensating housing and the front wall of the front casing memberA. Separators D are provided with flanges 30 that engage the side wallsof the casing members to maintain the column against lateral movementunder the forces of compression.

As will be seen best in Figure 2, separator E is of I-section, having aweb 35 from both faces of which flanges 36 project, these anges being ofsuch dimension as to span the gap between the adjacent ends of the sidewalls of casing members A and B.

In assembling the gear, casing member B is placed with flanges 16 and 17lowermost, the compensating plunger G is then inserted, compensatingcolumn members H registered with the plunger, and the housing F theninstalled in place. The main resilient column is then added, withseparators D and E interposed, after which the front casing member A isadded. It will be noted that centering the first pad C with respect tothe front wall 22 of housing F is facilitated by bosses 31 at thecorners of the wall 22. With the casing member B in assembling position,these bosses 31 project upwardly and the column member C drops intoplace between them. The main column is then compressed sufficiently topermit keys K to be registered with the perforations 14 and 21, afterwhich the forces compressing the column are removed and the gear is heldtogether as a unit by the keys. The gear is shipped with the keys inplace and upon installation in a draft rigging the gear is fitted withinthe opening in the yoke and the keys then removed to permit installingthe yoke and gear in the pocket of a vehicle.

In a yoke and pocket of the same length, the casing members A and Blwill be forced tightly against the lugs 11 and 40, as shown in Figures1 and 3, and the compensating plunger 27 will be forced into engagementwith the rear member 41 of the yoke. It will be noted in Figure 3 thatthe rearmost face of the plunger 27 is substantially aligned with theflanges 16 of the housing member B. f

In case the opening in the yoke is shorter than the distance between thelugs 11 and 40, the fianges 16 project beyond the rear face of thecompensating plunger 27 into engagement with the lugs 40 in the mannerbest seen in Figure 4, the rear portion 41 of the yoke moving into thegroove 19 and the compensating plunger 27 moving into the compensatinghousing further compressing the compensating column H. In case theopening in the yoke is longer than the distance between the lugs 11 and40', compensating plunger 27 is forced outwardly to maintain tightengagement with the rear portion 41 of the yoke in the manner shown inFigure 5.

In operation in bu?, the portion 12 of the yoke acting upon the frontwall 10 of the casing member A moves that casing member away from thelugs 11, thereby to compress the main resilient column. This rearwardmovement of the yoke causes the rear portion 41 thereof to move acorresponding distance, causing the compensating plunger 27 to be movedrearwardly until the base portion 26 thereof engages the flanges l16 and17.

In draft, the yoke moves forwardly, pushing the compensating plunger 27inwardly of the casing and compressing compensating column units H, thismovement continuing until the yoke 41 engages anges 17 of the casingmember B. Additional forward movement of the yoke transmits forcesdirectly to the casing member B, thereby to move it forwardly andcompress the main resilient column rather than the compensating column.

Thus, it will be seen that the gear of the present invention will bemaintained tight in the pocket of a vehicle and in the yoke thereof,notwithstanding that there may be variations in the respective lengthsof the pocket and yoke. The compensating column, which is of lowerresistance than the main column, is compressed only to a limited extentand overloading of this column is thereby definitely prevented.

While I have chosen to illustrate my invention by showing and describinga preferred embodiment of it, I have done so by way of example only, asthere are many modilications and adaptations which can be made by oneskilled in the art within the teachings of the invention.

Having thus complied with the statutes and shown and described apreferred embodiment of my invention, what I consider new and desire tohave protected by Letters Patent is pointed out in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a railway draft rigging having a pocket definedby front and rear lugs fixed on the sills of a Vehicle and having a yokeone end of which is `disposed between the rear ones of said lugs; of adraft gear comprising a pair of casing members both of which are open atone end and one of which is closed at its other end, flanges projectinginwardly from the other end of the other one of said members defining anopening therein, said members being disposed with their open endsadjacent, a housing disposed in said other member and consisting of sidewalls engaging said flanges and extending therefrom to ra main walldisposed parallel to the open end of the member; a main resilient columnin said casing members one end of which abuts against said closed endand the other end abuts against said main wall, said main column beingcompressed by engagement of said closed end and said flanges with saidlugs to maintain the gear tight in the pocket; a plunger comprising a'main portion engaging said end of said yoke and extending through saidopening to a base portion within said housing; a second resilient columnwithin said housing and 'abutting against said main wall and said base,engagement of said plunger with said yoke compressing said second columnto maintain the gear tight in the yoke.

2. The combination with a railway draft rigging having a pocket definedby front and rear lugs fixed on the sills of a vehicle and having a yokeone end of which is disposed between the rear ones of said lugs; of adraft gear comprisng: a pair of casing members both open at one end; anend wall closing the front end of the front member; flanges projectinginwardly from the rear end of the rear member and forming an openingtherein, said members being disposed with their open ends adjacent; ahousing disposed in said rear member, said housing comprising a mainwall disposed transversely of the member and side walls projectingrearwardly therefrom into engagement with said fianges; a main resilientcolumn abutted at its front end against said end wall and abutted at itsrear end against said main Wall, said main column being compressed byengagement of said end wall with said front lugs and engagement of saidflanges with said rear lugs to maintain the gear tight in the pocket; aplunger comprising a main portion engaging said end of said yoke andextending through said opening to a base portion disposed within saidhousing; a second resilient column in the housing abutting against saidmain wall and' base,A engagement of said plunger with said yokecompressing the second column to maintain the gear tight in the yoke. v

3. The combination with a railway draft rigging having a pocket definedby front and rearlugs fixed on the sills of a vehicle and having a yokeone end of which is disposed between the rear ones of said lugs; of adraft gear comprising: a metallic casing member of rectangular crosssection having an open end and a closed end, said closed end containinga rectangular perforation centered coincident with the end Wall of themember, said end wall having thin sections above and below saidperforation forming a groove opening outwardly of the end wall, a secondmetallic casing member of rectangular cross seetion having an open endand a closed end, said members being disposed in alignment with theiropen ends adjacent; a compensating device within said first casingmember comprising a housing, a plunger, and a resilient column engagingsaid housing and plunger; a main resilient column within said casingmembers and engaging said housing and the end wall of said second casingmember, said end walls of said casing members engaging said lugs tomaintain said main column under compression thereby to maintain saidgear tight in the pocket; said plunger projecting through saidperforation and engaging said end of the yoke thereby to maintain saidcompensating device column under compression to maintain the gear tightin the yoke, said yoke in draft moving said plunger inwardly of the gearfurther compressing said compensating column until the yoke engages thebottom of said groove after which further movement of the yoke movessaid rst casing member to further compress said main resilient column.

4. The combination with a railway draft rigging having a pocket definedby front and rear lugs xed on the sills of a vehicle and having a yokeone end of which is disposed between the rear ones of said lugs andsubstantially in alignment therewith; of a draft gear comprising: ametallic casing member of rectangular cross section having an open endand a closed end, said closed end containing a rectangular perforationcentered coincident with the end wall of the member, said end wallhaving thin sections above and below said perforation forming a grooveopening outwardly of the end wall; a second metallic casing member ofrectangular cross section having an open end and a closed end, saidmembers being disposed in alignment with their open ends adjacent; adevice within said first member for compensating for misalignment ofsaid lugs and the end of the yoke comprising: a housing, a plunger and aresilient column engaging said housing and plunger; a main resilientcolumn within said casing members engaging said housing and the end wallof said second casing member, said end walls of said casing membersengaging said lugs to maintain said main column under compressionthereby to maintain said gear tight in the pocket; said plungerprojecting through said perforation and engaging said end of the yokethereby to maintain said compensating device co1- umn under compressionto maintain the gear tight in the yoke despite misalignment of the yokeand lugs, said yoke in draft moving said plunger inwardly of the gearfurther compressing said compensating column until the yoke engages thebottom of said groove after which further movement of the yoke movessaid rst casing member to further compress said main resilient column.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS773,387 Gallagher Oct. 25, 1904 1,123,356 OConnor Ian. 5, 1915 1,683,822Haseltine Sept. 11, 1928 1,876,019 Priebe Sept. 6, 1932 2,410,933Freeman Nov. 12, 1946 2,521,834 Dath et al. Sept. 12, 1950 2,640,603Willison et al. June 2, 1953

